Employees: 400
The city of Monroe, North Carolina has several effective Wellness Programs in place for its employees. These programs were developed to help keep employees healthy and also to instill a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment in the workplace.
Programs are promoted through email and on the wellness page of the city of Monroe website. Programs are developed through surveying employee’s wellness needs.
FitCard
The Fitcard program helps employees and their families track aerobic activities and offers incentives for having over 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day. Fitcard started with 55 city employees and family members in 2003 and grew to 109 in 2004 and 143 by 2005.
The program is low-key and self-directed, allowing employees to choose the type of activity they do as long as they track it carefully on the paper FitCard (see below for FitCard example.)
Employees must be active for at least 25 days. From that point, they can turn in their FitCard to receive prizes, such as gift cards, T-shirts, or water bottles. Overall, the Fitcard program has been a major success in helping employees stay motivated to do individual exercise routines.
Why Weight
Another popular program among city workers is Monroe’s weight loss competition called “Why Weight?” In 2005, 132 employees took part in “Why Weight,” with the approval of their doctor. Participants formed their own four-member teams. The competition lasted for four months, during which the employees encouraged each other by sharing success stories and ideas. Rather than a purely competitive environment, most of the teams encourage and help to motivate all members in weight loss.
Many of the “Why Weight” participants joined the Monroe Aquatics & Fitness Center to facilitate further weight loss. All employees are offered a 75 percent discounted membership and half off the monthly rate. Employees regularly take advantage of this discounted membership to keep in shape.
Monroe also offers its employees “Lunch and Learn” sessions where local physicians and wellness counselors speak on various topics, including weight loss. The “Why Weight” competitors used the information to improve wellness and lose weight.
Results
Over the four-month period, the teams competed against each other to lose a total of 1,200 pounds. Over 47 percent of the participants lost 6 percent or more of their total weight. Some lost up to 50 pounds.
Because of the program’s success and popularity among employees, it has been renewed. Over 20 teams had signed up for the 2006 program, “Why Weight II?”
The “Why Weight” competition produced more than weight loss benefits. Many employees were able to discontinue using blood pressure, cholesterol, and other medications due to their new active lifestyle. A blood pressure machine was purchased for the office, enabling employees to regularly check their own blood pressure and quickly make adjustments if their health status changes.
Strengths
Innovative Ideas
Lessons Learned
Contact Information
Wellness Committee Chairman
P. O. Box 69
Monroe, NC 28111-0069
Phone: 704-282-4597
